Did Jimmy Kimmel Apologize? Host Cries and Addresses Kirk Family, Trump, FCC in Return Monologue

Everyone was watching to see if Jimmy Kimmel would apologize for his controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk when he returned to hosting *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on ABC after being off the air for almost a week. The main question was whether he would directly say he was sorry.

The short answer: no—not in the way many were expecting.

The Backdrop: A Suspension That Rocked Disney

Jimmy Kimmel faced suspension following a segment on September 15th where he suggested conservatives were trying to distance themselves from a man accused of attempting to harm Charlie Kirk. However, by the time Kimmel spoke, investigators had already revealed evidence contradicting that claim. This evidence included anti-fascist writings found on bullet casings, information about the accused’s partner being a transgender woman, and initial indications of ideological conflicts that suggested a different motive.

In other words, Kimmel’s remarks ignored the facts that were already available.

As a critic, I’ve been following the fallout from Disney’s decision to halt production on the show, and their explanation boils down to a sensitivity issue. They claim certain comments felt wrong given the current climate, and pausing the show was meant to de-escalate things. But let’s be real, this wasn’t just about being considerate. Disney was facing serious heat – the FCC was breathing down their neck, major station groups like Sinclair and Nexstar were refusing to air the show, and viewers and advertisers were up in arms. It was a full-blown crisis, and Disney reacted defensively.

The stage was set: if Kimmel was to return, the expectation was for an apology.

Tears Without Contrition

Jimmy Kimmel began his return to the show with a revealing statement: he doubted anything he said would really matter.

He openly wept, paused for standing ovations, and tried to reset the narrative.

Jimmy Kimmel: “I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone.”
Except the thousands of people who celebrated, that is
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 24, 2025

You know, there was a moment where he really needed to clarify things. He said, and I remember it clearly, that he absolutely never meant to downplay or joke about someone losing their life. He was adamant that there was nothing, *nothing* amusing about it.

He clarified that he wasn’t trying to blame any particular group, emphasizing that the actions were committed by a single, troubled person.

That final statement is notable because it’s a shift from how he initially presented things. Instead of acknowledging he was wrong, Kimmel claimed his previous comments were misinterpreted.

It’s a classic case of “I’m sorry you didn’t understand what I was saying…”

He complimented Erika Kirk on her ability to forgive, saying she was someone others should emulate. However, he quickly shifted back to making politically charged and critical statements.

Attacks on Trump and the FCC

Okay, let me tell you what went down on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel really came out swinging at Donald Trump, accusing him of trying to effectively ‘cancel’ his show. He didn’t stop there, though – he also poked fun at the FCC chair, Brendan Carr, who’d been critical of him. Kimmel framed all of this as a direct attack on free speech, calling the pressure to silence his show completely ‘anti-American.’ It was a pretty fiery monologue, honestly.

Jimmy Kimmel calls out Donald Trump for trying to shut down his show
He attempted to silence me, but his efforts actually drew millions of viewers to the broadcast. That plan clearly failed. Now, he may try to divert attention by releasing the Epstein files… And our leader is celebrating…
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 24, 2025

As reported by *The Washington Post*, he presented himself as the one being unfairly silenced, criticizing local stations for canceling his show. This was a daring and potentially damaging step for Disney, which had hoped the situation would be resolved by his comeback.

Kimmel made it clear: he wasn’t going to back down.

Conservative Reactions: “Not Good Enough”

If Kimmel thought tears would win over critics, he was mistaken.

Dear Jimmy Kimmel,
In your semi-apology tonight,
you LIED AGAIN.
You were not making “light” of Mr. Kirk’s death.
Your recent suspension was due to falsely accusing someone associated with MAGA and Republicans of murdering our friend, Charlie Kirk.
— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) September 24, 2025

Conservative voices close to the Kirk family and beyond blasted the performance as hollow.

Andrew Kolvet, a close friend of Charlie Kirk and producer of his show, said Kimmel’s remarks were “not good enough.”
Jack Posobiec dismissed the monologue as “fake crying” and manipulation.
Benny Johnson labeled Kimmel a “sick liar.”
Rob Schneider accused him of a “semi-apology” that twisted facts to deflect blame.
Jerry Dunleavy, a journalist, said Kimmel was “absolutely falsely insinuating” ideology and now trying to cover his tracks.
James Woods condemned Kimmel for smearing conservatives in his earlier remarks.

The responses to Kimmel’s explanations suggest they actually upset more people. Rather than repairing the damage, he may have made things worse.

Did Jimmy Kimmel Apologize?

Despite multiple attempts to explain himself, he still hasn’t offered a direct apology. He expressed regret and clarified his statements, even denying he blamed anyone, but never actually said “I apologize.” The only time he said something similar, “I’m sorry,” was while performing a scripted comedy bit with Robert De Niro that parodied Donald Trump and the FCC. Instead, he tried to claim his words were taken out of context and used the opportunity to criticize Trump and Brendan Carr.

He almost apologized, saying he realized some people felt his previous comments were poorly timed or confusing, and that he understood if anyone thought he was blaming others.

You might expect me to say “I apologize” right now, but I won’t be.

He acknowledged my feelings, saying he understood why I was upset and would likely have reacted similarly if our roles were reversed. He then shared about the difficult and threatening situations he often faces.

I receive a lot of disturbing and frightening threats directed at me, my family, and my colleagues because of my views. I know these threats aren’t coming from people on the right – people I know and respect. I wanted to address that, but I don’t want to focus the conversation on my personal experiences.

The irony, of course, being that he had just made it all about him.

A genuine apology would have clearly stated, “I made a mistake, and I’m sorry to the Kirk family and to anyone I treated unfairly.” But that never happened.

The Fallout Isn’t Over

Sinclair and Nexstar are still refusing to air *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on their local stations. This means millions of viewers can’t watch the show on regular TV, despite ABC’s efforts to downplay the issue. This is a significant problem for Disney, because advertisers care about how many people see the show, not whether it’s controversial.

Liberals praised Kimmel’s support of free speech, while conservatives viewed it as insincere. Disney is stuck in a difficult position, attempting to satisfy both groups as its late-night show becomes increasingly associated with political controversy.

Jimmy Kimmel didn’t actually apologize. He cried, explained his side, and said it wasn’t his fault, but he didn’t take responsibility for his actions.

Those who support him might see this as sufficient. However, his detractors believe it demonstrates a lack of humility and unwillingness to bridge differences. As for Disney, this situation clearly isn’t resolved yet.

2025-09-24 17:00